South Africa humiliated the touring New Zealanders with an embarrassingly one-sided eight-wicket victory in the first of three Twetnty20 Internationals on Friday. The hosts dismissed their hapless opponents for just 86 before captain Faf du Plessis (38 not out) and debutant Quinton de Kock (28 not out) wrapped the game up with 7.5 overs to spare following the early dismissals of openers Richard Levi and Henry Davids.
Six of New Zealand’s top seven batsmen were dismissed for single figure scores as seamer Rory Kleinveldt claimed figures of three for 18 and spinner Robin Peterson produced his country’s most economical four-over analysis in the format with figures of two for eight.
Dale Steyn, who previously owned the record with just nine runs conceded, was not far behind once again with an analysis of two for 13 from three overs.
Consolation was scarce for the tourists’ batsmen but at least they could claim to have been too positive rather than too cautious. In fact, they were reckless and failed to assess a pitch which was uncharacteristically dry and produced uneven bounce.
Debutant Colin Munro briefly impressed with 23 from 18 balls and Doug Bracewell finished with an unbeaten 21 but it was not enough to avoid a desperate start to the tour for a New Zealand team in disarray before they even arrived following the controversial sacking of captain Ross Taylor.
The second game is in East London on Sunday and the third in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
Scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND
R.Nicol c de Kock b Kleinveldt 3
P.Fulton c Morris b Steyn 9
B.McCullum c Steyn b Kleinveldt 6
J.Franklin c de Kock b McLaren 0
C.Munro c and b Morris 23
C.Anderson c Levi b Morris 5
N.McCullum b Peterson 1
J.Neesham b Peterson 10
D.Bracewell not out 21
R.Hira c Kleinveldt b Steyn 5
M.McClenaghan c Peterson b Kleinveldt 0
Extras (lb-1, w-2) 3
Total (all out in 18.2 overs) 86
Fall: 1-9, 2-19, 3-19, 4-27, 5-34, 6-36, 7-54, 8-60, 9-81
Bowling: McLaren 4-0-27-1, Steyn 3-0-13-2 (1w), Kleinveldt 3.2-1-18-3, Morris 3.4-0-19-2 (1w), Peterson 4-0-8-2, Du Plessis 0.2-0-0-0.
South Africa
R.Levi c Fulton b McClenaghan 0
H.Davids b Hira 20
F.du Plessis not out 38
Q.de Kock not out 28
Extras (w-1) 1
Total (for two wickets in 12.1 overs) 87
Fall: 1-0, 2-45
Bowling: McClenaghan 3-1-20-1, Bracewell 2-0-21-0 (1w), Hira 3-0-15-1, Anderson 1-0-11-0, N.McCullum 2-0-7-0, Nicol 1-0-11-0, Neesham 0.1-0-2-0.
South Africa won by eight wickets and lead three-match series 1-0.